Real support by real people – including YOU!

Members of CHiPA are everyday Australians working hard to protect children from critical injury and the impacts that ripple through families.

Whilst the founding Members of the Alliance are people in key positions at hospitals and influencers working in the communities to gain the traction and recognition this issue so desperately needs, everyone can help!

Professor Kate Curtis is an internationally renowned trauma nurse and researcher with a special interest in trauma models of care, emergency and trauma nursing and the financial aspects of trauma systems. She is a practicing emergency and trauma nurse, Profesorial fellow at the George Institute for Global Health, NHMRC Translation of Research into Practice Fellow and Visiting Associate Professor at the University of Southampton, UK. “I am interested in conducting research that is meaningful and will make a difference to emergency/trauma patients and to those caring for them, in Australia and around the world” says Professor Curtis. “I also am passionate about mentoring clinicians to conduct research and translate their research into practice. Being at the coalface is crucial. It facilitates the generation of ideas, fosters good research conduct and enables speedy translation of research evidence into clinical practice. It also helps me to remain accessible to clinicians who are interested in research.”
Professor Curtis is the founder of the Australian Trauma Nurse List and Board Member of the College of Emergency Nursing Australasia. She has received numerous awards recognising her research, innovation and clinical work with the critically injured. In 2010, Sydney Magazine voted her one of Sydney’s Top 100 most influential people.

She also is an NHMRC TRIP (Translation of Research Into Practice) Fellow (2013), one of just 11 granted around the country, and a NHMRC Partnership Grant (2014) for her work in the Paediatric Critical Injury Research Program (of only 8 awarded in Australia). She currently serves as Research Co-Chair at the NSW Emergency Care Institute and at the Australasian Trauma Society, and committee member of the Research Committee at the NSW Institute of Trauma and Injury Management.

Magic Wand Question

Q: If you could wave a magic wand what would you change and where would you start in order to improve childhood injury?

A: I would like to see a coordinated and funded effort by the federal government to reduce the incidence and impact of childhood injury. This can easily be achieved by establishing an evidence-based national injury prevention action framework for $10million a year (the financial cost of just two major head injuries). It makes sense to stop the heartbreak for kids and families, and it also makes business sense.

Personal Story

Q: Please tell us about a story that has had an impact on you and that has strengthened your resolve in childhood injury prevention.

A: I will never forget the guttural sound of a mother being told by us that her child has just died after being hit by a car. I will never forget the helplessness we all felt as clinicians holding this mother, and praying with her over her child. No parent should have to go through what she did, but tragically, the parents of more than 150 children a year do.

We need to stop kids injury.

How to Reduce...

Q: What practical solution(s) would you like to see/do you believe would see an immediate reduction in childhood injury?

A: We know what works in preventing kids injury, and we know how to do it. We just need funding to make it happen. I’d like to see every teenager attend the P.A.R.T.Y. program, which we know reduces injury rates in our youth.

Message to Parents

Q: Given your experience with childhood injury, what key message should parents/guardians need to be made aware of?

A: For every severely injured child, there are at least 13 children hospitalised with minor or moderate injuries. No one is immune. Kids are kids, and we can’t wrap them in cotton wool, but we can do things to ensure they don’t die, or get a catastrophic brain injury that will steal their future. Parents can do simple things like enforcing helmet wearing on bicycles, skateboards and scooters.

Rebecca Mitchell

Associate Professor Rebecca Mitchell has been working in the field of injury prevention for over 20 years.

She is a registered psychologist and injury epidemiologist.

Associate Professor Mitchell leads the Health Outcomes stream at Australian Institute for Health Innovation and her research
focuses on examining health outcomes, particularly following injury, and the delivery of health services. She has a strong history of conducting research that has been used to inform public health policy, health service and prevention practice.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-adams-471425b6/

Susan Adams

Paediatric Surgeon

SCHN, UNSW, Kidsafe NSW

CHIPA

Bio

Paediatric Surgeon. Research and advocacy injury prevention.

Magic Wand Question

Q: If you could wave a magic wand what would you change and where would you start in order to improve childhood injury?

A: Starting with cross-sectoral federal and state government commitment to addressing the issue with an injury prevention action plan for children aligned with appropriate funding.

Personal Story

Q: Please tell us about a story that has had an impact on you and that has strengthened your resolve in childhood injury prevention.

A: Every child that is admitted to hospital as a result of an injury where the injury could have been prevented or made less serious while not stifling childhood exploration, fun and experience, leaves an impression. Car crashes, pedestrian injuries, falls from windows, children using off-road vehicles, bicycles and scooters with no helmet, trampolines, injuries to the very young. It’s the split second where everything changes – and didn’t need to “if only” – that leaves families reeling and lives changed forever.

How to Reduce...

Q: What practical solution(s) would you like to see/do you believe would see an immediate reduction in childhood injury?

A: It has to start with prominent government commitment, and a cessation of blame/responsibility shifting from sector to sector.

Any initiative where there is evidence – contained in the good practice guide – has my support. If you have to start in one area – the area of most injury is transport. But there is no reason multiple areas cannot be addressed – especially if one takes a step back and looks at addressing the ‘determinants’ of injury that are often common to many situations.

Message to Parents

Q: Given your experience with childhood injury, what key message should parents/guardians need to be made aware of?

A: Preventing injury does not mean preventing childhood exploration, challenge and fun. Your child has a right to enjoy and experience all the joys of childhood while being protected from the risk of serious injury. Injured children have a right to access to health care that ensures the best possible outcome.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/les-white-5b67101a/

Leslie White AM

Professor Emeritus

Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University

CHIPA

Bio

Over 4 decades of clinical, research and executive leadership in children’s healthcare, including Executive Director of Sydney Children’s Hospital (1995-2010).

Most recent position: inaugural NSW Chief Paediatrician (2010-2016).

Advocacy and support roles in childhood injury, including convenor of multiagency Conference (2013), co-Chair of NSW Childhood Injury Prevention Research Reference Group and expert advisor to the NSW Ombudsman’s office.

Magic Wand Question

Q: If you could wave a magic wand what would you change and where would you start in order to improve childhood injury?

A: My emphasis has been and remains interagency collaboration and data sharing, especially in NSW jurisdiction. What is required is a declared priority in policy and funding and a clear point of leadership.

Personal Story

Q: Please tell us about a story that has had an impact on you and that has strengthened your resolve in childhood injury prevention.

A: When initiating our collaborative NSW structures/ventures I was greatly impressed by the commitment and enthusiasm of colleagues across multiple agencies as well as the excellence of the research projects submitted in response to modest funding opportunities.

How to Reduce...

Q: What practical solution(s) would you like to see/do you believe would see an immediate reduction in childhood injury?

A: See item 1

Message to Parents

Q: Given your experience with childhood injury, what key message should parents/guardians need to be made aware of?

A: While we can and should do a great deal better in preventing injury through a range of measures, we must also recognise the balance that acknowledges the importance of exercise, adventure and appropriate risk for healthy growth, weight and development in childhood.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-cameron-57a582a/

Peter Cameron

Professor

Alfred Emergency / Trauma Centre, Divisional Head of Health Services Research, Monash University School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine

CHIPA

https://research.monash.edu/en/persons/debbie-scott

Debbie Scott

Senior Research Fellow, Doctor, PhD.

Monash University and Turning Point

CHIPA

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-martin-23ab495b/

Kate Martin

President, Trauma Surgeon

Australasian Trauma Society

CHIPA

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-foster-3b19474a/

Kim Foster

Professor

North Western Mental Health & Australian Catholic University

CHIPA

John Melluish

Chairman

Day of Difference Foundation

CHIPA

Dr Julie Brown

Associate Professor

Neuroscience Research Australia and University of New South Wales

CHIPA

Dr Karen Zwi

Associate Professor

School of Women‘s & Children’s Health and University of New South Wales

Scott Groves

Charity Ambassador, Author

Founder of CODE Like You CARE, Ambassador of Day of Difference Foundation, International Speaker and Author

CHIPA

Bio

Scott Groves is Founder and CEO of Scott Groves International and Author of multiple books and training programs. A leading sales and marketing consultancy based in Australia, SG Int’l provides an extensive range of high-quality business training and consultancy services to both national and international clients.

An experienced online marketer and trainer, Scott operates a number of successful online enterprises. Scott Groves has achieved outstanding success – for both him and his clients’ businesses with his expertise in sales and marketing leading to BRW Award Winning Recognitions such as Top 100 Fastest Growing Companies and Top 10 Highest Revenue Growth in Franchise space 3 years in a row.

A specialist with a proven track record that spans nearly two decades and a business consultancy that includes clients from over 40+ different industries, it’s not difficult to see why Scott is recognised as one of Australia’s leading strategic experts.

Scott has also authored six books; numerous special reports; and, has been providing inspirational seminars and personal development training programs for more than 15 years – now available for corporate licensing.

Sue Wicks

Sue is a health promotion and injury prevention practitioner and is active in child injury prevention and safety promotion initiatives at state and national levels. She has extensive experience working in both government and non-government sectors.

Sue’s qualifications in education, health promotion and public health, including a Master of Public Health. Whilst passionate about all aspects of child injury prevention, she has a particular interest in child road safety, consumer product safety and playground safety.

Magic Wand Question

Q: If you could wave a magic wand what would you change and where would you start in order to improve childhood injury?

A: My magic wand would start with changing attitudes to child injury. Child injury prevention is not about wrapping kids in cotton wool, it’s about make safer systems, environments and products to help prevent predictable, serious injuries while still enabling children to grow and develop normally. Our world is adult focussed but children experience and interact with that world in very different ways. No child should die or be seriously injured simply because they are learning about their world.

Personal Story

Q: Please tell us about a story that has had an impact on you and that has strengthened your resolve in childhood injury prevention.

A: There is no single story – it’s the children who have survived or not survived car crashes dependant on how they were restrained in the vehicle at the time; the children who have received terrible burns from hot tap water and who will carry the physical & emotional scars for the rest of their life; the children who have drowned or who suffer lifelong disability from a non-fatal drowning because of a short lapse in adult attention; the children who have been poisoned because medications and toxic substances have not been properly stored; the children who have been run-over in their own driveway, often by a parent.

How to Reduce...

Q: What practical solution(s) would you like to see/do you believe would see an immediate reduction in childhood injury?

A: Make inventors & manufacturers prove that their products are safe for children in every conceivable unintended usage before they get to market – we shouldn’t have to wait for deaths and injuries to occur before a product is investigated.

Message to Parents

Q: Given your experience with childhood injury, what key message should parents/guardians need to be made aware of?

A: Children will get into everything and try just about everything – this is normal and they are learning. As a parent, you need to know where your kids are and what they are doing at all times without being a helicopter parent. Make the environment as safe as you can for them and help them learn and develop skills when they are developmentally ready to do so.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chzinn/

Christopher Zinn

Director

Determined Consumer

CHIPA

Dr Barb Vernon

CEO‎

Women‘s & Children’s Healthcare Australasia

CHIPA

Professor Belinda Gabbe

Head of the Pre-Hospital, Emergency and Trauma Research Unit in the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine

Monash University

CHIPA

Professor Caroline Finch

Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research

Edith Cowan University

CHIPA

Christine Erskine

Executive Officer

Kidsafe NSW

CHIPA

Dr Connie Van

Senior Research Assistant

University of Sydney

CHIPA

Professor James Harrison

Director, Reseach Centre for Injury Studies

Flinders University, South Australia

CHIPA

Susie O’Niell

‎Managing Director

KIDS Foundation

CHIPA

Dr John Crozier

Chair, National Trauma Committee

Royal Australasian College of Surgeons

CHIPA

Professor Mark Fitzgerald ASM

Director

National Trauma Research Institute, Director of Trauma Services at The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne

CHIPA

Martin Botros

National President

Kidsafe Australia

CHIPA

Michelle McCahon

Education Consultant

KIDS Foundation

CHIPA

Professor Rebecca Ivers

Director, Injury Division

The George Institute for Global Health;
President, Australian Injury Prevention Network